Asylum and Immigration Tribunal

The Countess of Mar: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many non-legal members of the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal have sat on (a) second-stage reconsiderations; (b) conducive deportations; (c) country guidance; and (d) unaccompanied minors' hearings since April 2005.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: The Asylum and Immigration Tribunal (AIT) does not collate information on the volume of sittings by non-legal members according to specific types of appeal.
	Deployment of non-legal members is a matter for the president of the tribunal. He has decided that, where possible, non-legal members can be deployed on (a) asylum appeals where further evidence is required at second-stage reconsideration, (b) appeals against notice of intention to deport on the grounds that deportation is conducive to the public good, (c) appeals designated as country guidance cases and (d) appeals brought by unaccompanied minors.

Asylum and Immigration Tribunal

The Countess of Mar: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the current backlog of first-stage reconsideration cases lodged with the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: Of the 72,000 cases currently before the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal (AIT), approximately 4,000 appeals which were granted an order for reconsideration under Section 103A of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 are awaiting the allocation of a hearing date before senior immigration judges.

British Citizenship

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will place in the Library of the House the note verbale to the Government of Nepal (ref: ADM/195/2006) of 29 June, together with any other information that is held pertaining to it; and whether they have explained to the Government of Nepal that (a) the United Kingdom is seeking clarifications with respect to Nepalese law as in force on 4 February 1997; (b) British national (overseas) status could not be acquired through jus soli; (c) both adults and minors were required to make a written application to register as a British national (overseas); (d) to make acquisition of British national (overseas) status involuntary or automatic would have been contrary to the assurances given to the Government of the People's Republic of China which led to the words "eligible to" being used in paragraph (a) of the United Kingdom memorandum to the Sino-British joint declaration dated 19 December 1984; and (e) those British nationals (overseas) who are not considered citizens of Nepal on 4 February 1997 could become eligible to register as British citizens.

Lord Triesman: The note verbale ref. ADM/195/2006 of 29 June was placed in the Library on 6 October. A digest of information pertaining to this will also be placed in the Library. In the interests of making progress, nationality experts from the Home Office and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are seeking an early meeting with their Nepalese counterparts in Kathmandu to obtain clarification on a variety of issues surrounding the application of Nepalese nationality law on 4 February 1997.

British Citizenship

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In which countries their contingency plans for emergency evacuation of British nationals exclude British overseas citizens, British subjects and British protected persons; and in which countries their evacuation plans envisage that those categories of British nationals will be treated differently from British citizens.

Lord Triesman: In the event of a crisis in a foreign country that puts British nationals in life-threatening danger, the Government would not distinguish between categories of British passport holder. If an official evacuation were organised, all categories would be eligible. Contingency planning at missions overseas takes account of this policy. Contingency planning also takes account of unrepresented EU nationals and unrepresented Commonwealth nationals in the third country, for whom we may have consular responsibility in the event of an evacuation.

British Citizenship

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What details have been given to the Government of the People's Republic of China on which former Hong Kong British Dependent Territories citizens have successfully registered for British nationality under (a) the Hong Kong (British Nationality) Order 1986; (b) the British Nationality (Hong Kong) Act 1990; (c) the Hong Kong (War Wives and Widows) Act 1996; and (d) the British Nationality (Hong Kong) Act 1997; and why it was necessary to divulge those details.

Lord Triesman: No details have been given to the Government of the People's Republic of China on which former Hong Kong British Dependent Territories citizens have successfully registered for British nationality under the categories specified by the noble Lord. Public access, including foreign government access, to these records is subject to the restrictions of the Data Protection Act 1998.

Child Support Agency

Lord Skelmersdale: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What progress is being made by Sir David Henshaw in his review of the Child Support Agency.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: In July 2006, and in response to Sir David Henshaw's report, we set out the broad direction of redesign of the child support system. We are undertaking an intensive programme of work to determine the way forward. We have asked Sir David Henshaw to give continuing advice on the more detailed assessment of the transition to the new system and the creation of the new organisation. We will publish a White Paper with detailed proposals later this autumn.

Civil Service: Face Covering

Lord Greaves: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether guidance has been issued to civil servants and other officials carrying out government business on the permissibility of asking members of the public to remove items of clothing, helmets or other items which cover their faces; and, if so, in what circumstances such officials may make such requests.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The issuing of guidance to civil servants on the permissibility of asking members of the public to remove items of clothing is a matter for individual departments. No central guidance has been issued by the Cabinet Office.

Commonwealth: Secretariat

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will place in the Library of the House a copy of the report by the panel under the chairmanship of Mrs Glenda Phillips, High Commissioner of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, on conditions of work in the Commonwealth secretariat; and what is their response to the recommendations made by the panel.

Lord Triesman: The report was commissioned by the Commonwealth Secretary-General. Whether it is released publicly is a matter for him. We understand that the panel's recommendations, which are an internal matter for the Commonwealth secretariat, are being implemented.

Government Departments: Financial Reporting

Baroness Noakes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Scotland Office has any arrangements to enable staff of that department to raise, in confidence, concerns about matters of financial reporting, disclosure of other information or value for money; and, if so, whether they will give details of the arrangements.

Lord Evans of Temple Guiting: Staff in the Scotland Office are on secondment from the Scottish Executive or the Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA). If an officer feels unable to raise his or her concerns with their line management, these can be raised directly with the head of the Scotland Office. If this is considered inappropriate in the circumstances, concerns may be raised directly with the office's internal auditors, who are not part of the Scotland Office, or the designated nominated officers in their parent departments.

Government Departments: Financial Reporting

Baroness Noakes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Wales Office has any arrangements to enable staff of that department to raise, in confidence, concerns about matters of financial reporting, disclosure of other information or value for money; and, if so, whether they will give details of the arrangements.

Lord Evans of Temple Guiting: The Wales Office has adopted the whistle-blowing policy of the Department for Constitutional Affairs. Under the policy, staff may turn to any of the three nominated officers to discuss concerns and speak confidentially. The director of the Wales Office is one of the nominated officers under the policy. In addition, if their concern relates to the director, staff have the alternative option to contact the chair of the Wales Office Audit Committee.

Government Departments: Financial Reporting

Baroness Noakes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Department for Work and Pensions has any arrangements to enable staff of that department to raise, in confidence, concerns about matters of financial reporting, disclosure of other information or value for money; and, if so, whether they will give details of the arrangements.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The department has in place well established arrangements which encourage and enable staff to raise concerns about wrongdoing in the workplace. Concerns might cover such issues as fraud, breaches of legal obligations, miscarriages of justice, dangers to health and safety, damage to the environment or indeed concealing matters relating to any of the above. These arrangements meet the department's obligations under the Public Interest Disclosure Act, but also enable staff to raise more general concerns including value for money and financial reporting issues.
	Internal procedures give staff the choice of raising concerns with their local manager, specialist investigation managers within the department's corporate risk assurance division, via a confidential "whistleblowers' hotline" or to a nominated senior manager. All concerns raised are treated in confidence, taken seriously and investigated formally where this is considered appropriate.
	These arrangements are publicised on the department's intranet and were included in a leaflet issued to all staff in May 2006.

Government Departments: Financial Reporting

Baroness Noakes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether HM Revenue and Customs has any arrangements to enable staff of that department to raise, in confidence, concerns about matters of financial reporting, disclosure of other information or value for money; and, if so, whether they will give details of the arrangements.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: HMRC has arrangements for reporting concerns about malpractice and wrongdoing (whistle-blowing), under the Civil Service Code (CSC) and the Public Interest Disclosure Act, and serious concerns about wrongdoing or malpractice at work that are not specifically covered by the CSC. A copy of the department's guidance has been placed in the Library.

India: Caste-based Discrimination

The Earl of Sandwich: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What guidelines they give to Foreign and Commonwealth Office staff and human resources managers in India on caste-based discrimination; and how they ensure that there is no discrimination against dalits in their employment policy.

Lord Triesman: In line with Foreign and Commonwealth Office global policy, all our recruitment and employment practices at our posts in India are competency-based and focused on valuing diversity. Discrimination in any form is unacceptable.

India: Caste-based Discrimination

The Earl of Sandwich: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether caste-based discrimination was discussed at the latest annual European Union-India summit; and whether they will raise it during the consultations on human rights between the European Union troika and India.

Lord Triesman: At the recent EU-India summit, caste-based discrimination was not specifically discussed. The Presidency stressed to India that human rights are a fundamental part of all the EU's strategic partnerships. India expressed an openness to work with the EU on the Human Rights Council and reaffirmed its commitment to upholding human rights and fundamental freedoms and to continue, in a spirit of equality and mutual respect, multilateral and bilateral dialogue on human rights.
	Caste-based discrimination was raised at the1 December 2005 EU heads of mission troika meeting with India, during the UK's Presidency of the EU. The UK is actively consulting EU colleagues in New Delhi in the lead-up to the dialogue on human rights between the EU troika and India, which we hope will take place later this year.

Iraq: Chief of the General Staff's Comments

Lord Dykes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their response to the view expressedby the Chief of the General Staff that British troops should withdraw from Iraq some time soon.

Lord Drayson: The Government's policy is that UK forces will remain in Iraq until our work there is complete—that is, until the Iraqi Government are confident that the Iraqi security forces are capable of providing security. The Chief of the General Staff has made clear that he fully supports this policy.

Israel and Lebanon

Lord Dykes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Triesman on 11 October (WA 149), what response they received from the Government of Israel to their suggestion that Israel should contribute to the repair costs in Lebanon.

Lord Triesman: The Government of Israel have made clear that they do not intend to contribute to the repair costs in Lebanon.

Israel and Lebanon

Lord Dykes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will make representations to the Government of Israel regarding a future withdrawal from the Shebaa farms area to secure a full peace treaty with the Republic of Lebanon.

Lord Triesman: The UK has no plans to make formal representations to the Government of Israel regarding the Shebaa farms, although we expect to continue to discuss the issue in the course of bilateral talks. The UK supports UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1680, which,
	"strongly encourages the Government of Syria to respond positively to the request made by the Government of Lebanon ... to delineate their common border, especially those areas where the border is uncertain or disputed".
	This call is repeated in UNSCR 1701, which,
	"Requests the Secretary-General to develop, in liaison with relevant actors and the concerned parties, proposals to implement the relevant provisions of the Taif Accords, and resolutions 1559 (2004) and 1680 (2006), including disarmament, and for delineation of the international borders of Lebanon, especially in those areas where the border is disputed or uncertain, including by dealing with the Shebaa farms area".

Israel and Palestine

Lord Dykes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will respond to the call from the International Crisis Group for a renewed attempt to secure a comprehensive settlement of the Arab/Israeli conflict based on United Nations resolutions since 1967 and other agreements since the Camp David peace accords in 1978; and
	Whether they intend to support the work of the Anglican Church in Jerusalem in seeking a peace accord between Israel and Palestine.

Lord Triesman: We support any work that aims to bring peace in the region. We believe that the road map remains the best way forward to establish the vision of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security.

Israel and Palestine: Detention

Lord Dykes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will resume urgent talks with the Government of Israel on the need for a response to the international demand for releases among over 7,000 Palestinian detainees held in Israeli prisons.

Lord Triesman: We are concerned by Israel's policy of administrative detention, especially when periods of detention are repeatedly extended without trial and involve minors.
	Officials from our embassy in Tel Aviv last raised Palestinian prisoners with the Israeli Ministry for Foreign Affairs on 15 June. We will continue to raise this with the Israeli Government at all levels.

Israel: Military Action

Baroness Tonge: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What discussions they have had with the Government of Israel concerning reparations to Lebanon and Gaza following recent military action.

Lord Triesman: We have held recent discussions at official level with the Israelis on the reconstruction of Lebanon following the conflict. We continue to attach great importance to this and have contributed £22.3 million for humanitarian assistance and early recovery projects in Lebanon. At the Stockholm conference on 31 August, donors pledged over $940 million for humanitarian and reconstruction work in Lebanon, well in excess of the $530 million target required by the Government of Lebanon's early recovery plan. Israel's military operations in Lebanon were in response to Hezbollah's attack on Israel on 12 July and Hezbollah's subsequent firing of rockets into Israel. Widespread damage was caused to both Israeli and Lebanese infrastructure.

Lebanon: EU Action Plan

Lord Dykes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What early steps they intend to take to ensure the success of the European Union Action Plan for the Republic of Lebanon (com. 2006—365 final).

Lord Triesman: The European Neighbourhood Policy EU-Lebanon action plan was adopted by EU Foreign Ministers at the General Affairs and External Relations Council on 16 October 2006. The UK looks forward to speedy implementation of all aspects of the action plan in order to promote political, social and economic reform in Lebanon and strengthen EU-Lebanon relations. We expect that the EU-Lebanon Association Council will take place during the first half of 2007. This will be an important opportunity to monitor progress of the implementation of the action plan.

NHS: Mental Care Units

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many beds were available in mental care units throughout England and Wales in (a) 1985; (b) 1990; (c) 1995; (d) 2000; and (e) 2005.

Lord Warner: This information is shown in the table. The reduction in mental health bed numbers under successive Governments reflects the increasing provision by the National Health Service in England and Wales of treatment for patients with mental health conditions in primary care and community settings, without the need for hospital admissions.
	
		
			 Average daily available National Health Service mental health beds in England and Wales in 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000 and 2005. Data include beds available for children, psychiatric short-and long-stay elderly and other psychiatric secure unit, short- and long-stay beds.  
			  1985 1990-91 1995-96 2000-01 2005-06 
			 England 75,866 55,239 39,477 34,214 29,802 
			 Wales 6,495 4,022 3,562 3,240 (2004-05)3,130 
			 Sources: England: Department of Health Form KH03 Returns. 
			 Wales: Hansard and National Assembly for Wales statistical report on hospital activity

Official Gifts: Prime Minister

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What presents, gifts or mementos purchased with public funds the Prime Minister has given to foreign dignitaries while overseas or within the United Kingdom in the past year; and, in each case, what was the name of the recipient, the nature of the gift and its approximate value.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: I refer the noble Lord to the Answer given in the other place by my right honourable friend the Prime Minister to the honourable Member for East Worthing and Shoreham (Tim Loughton) on Monday 9 October (Official Report, col. 4W).

Official Travel: Bilderberg Conference

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether any Ministers attended the Bilderberg Conference in Ottawa between 8 and 11 June; if so, whether they attended in a ministerial or private capacity; whether they made contributions to debates; and, if so, on which subjects.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: All ministerial visits are conducted in accordance with the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers. Since 1999, the Government have published annually a list of overseas travel by Cabinet Ministers costing over £500 and the total cost of all ministerial travel. Information for 2005-06 was published on Monday 24 July 2006. Copies are available in the Library for the reference of noble Lords. Information for 2006-07 will be published as soon as possible after the end of the financial year.

Public Bodies: Financial Reporting

Baroness Noakes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Food Standards Agency has any arrangements to enable staff of that agency to raise, in confidence, concerns about matters of financial reporting, disclosure of other information or value for money; and, if so, whether they will give details of the arrangements.

Lord Warner: Under the whistle-blowing procedures operating in the Food Standards Agency (FSA), staff are able to raise concerns, in confidence, about any malpractice or illegal act, or if they feel that the FSA is failing in its duty to protect public health. In the first instance, staff are encouraged to raise such concerns with their line manager. Alternatively they may raise the matter with the human resource director or directly with the FSA board's appointed complaints investigator. The complaints investigator, who is independent, reports his findings to the FSA chair and a report is made annually to the FSA board.
	In addition, if staff do not receive what they consider to be a reasonable response they are able to report the matter to the Civil Service Commissioners. Staff have access to the FSA's accounts and the disclosure information contained within them. The FSA's internal auditors have recently conducted a counter-fraud testing audit and concluded that procedures were generally sound.

Public Expenditure: Scotland

Lord Barnett: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much of total public spending in Scotland listed in Cm 6811 (Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses 2006) is allocated under the Barnett formula; and what is the percentage of public spending, excluding local authority spending.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: Changes in the departmental expenditure limits for the Scottish Executive are calculated using the Barnett formula in accordance with the Treasury's Statement of Funding Policy. Table 1.12 of Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses 2006 (Cm 6811) gives details of Scotland's departmental expenditure limits for 2000-01 to 2007-08.
	Table 7.17 of Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses 2006 (Cm 6811) shows identifiable expenditure on services in Scotland by the Scottish Executive, Scottish local authorities and UK government departments.

Railways: Freight Charges

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Statement by the Secretary of State for Transport, Mr Alistair Darling, on 19 July 2005 (Official Report, House of Commons, cols. 71-4WS) in which they announced that they would provide clear guidance if and when the level of freight charges was reviewed by the Office of Rail Regulation, when such guidance will be published in connection with the current review.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The department will provide guidance to the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) in response to the ORR's consultation on freight charges. The consultation is expected to take place later this year and will contribute to the Periodic Review 2008.

Reporting Regulations

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which industries are included within the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR) are made under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HSW Act) and apply a single set of reporting requirements to all work activities in Great Britain and to the offshore oil and gas industry but not to all incidents.
	Work-related incidents which are not reportable under RIDDOR 1995 include: those arising from medical treatment; most road traffic accidents; accidents reportable under separate merchant shipping, civil aviation, air navigation, nuclear installation, explosives and radiation legislation; accidents to members of the Armed Forces while on duty; and the death of a self-employed person at premises where they were the only person with a legal duty to report.

Roads: A59

Lord Greaves: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will commission a survey of the safety for cyclists of the A59 between Preston and Skipton and, in particular, at the junction with the A56 and at the junction where it crosses the road from Sabden to Clitheroe.

Lord Davies of Oldham: Local highway authorities are responsible for road safety in their local areas; therefore this would be a matter for the local highway authority to consider.

Television: Analogue Frequencies

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much they expect to receive from the saleof analogue television frequencies followingthe compulsory introduction of digital television.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The matter raised is the responsibility of the Office of Communications (Ofcom), as independent regulator for the communications sector. Accordingly, I have asked the chief executive of Ofcom to reply directly to the noble Lord. Copies of the chief executive's letter will be placed in the Libraries.

Transport: Heavy Goods Vehicles

Lord Bradshaw: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether heavy goods vehicles pay a fair price for the use they make of the roads and associated facilities; and
	Whether heavy goods vehicles registered outside the United Kingdom pay a fair price for the use they make of roads and associated facilities in this country.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: Fuel and vehicle taxes, while linked to environmental and other issues, are not currently related directly to the full incremental costs that road users, including heavy goods vehicles, impose on society. In response to the Burns inquiry into fuel costs, foreign competition and freight taxes, the Government invited the main haulage industry associations to participate in a joint task group at the 2005 Pre-Budget Report. The task group has made progress in analysing the competitive position of the industry, and its findings will inform future decisions on how to ensure that haulage continues to fulfil its important role in the UK economy.

Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Draft Bill

Lord Lucas: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will reply to the letter dated 20 September from Philip Evans, chair of the Enforcement Law Reform Group, concerning the draft Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Bill; and whether they propose to submit that draft Bill for pre-legislative scrutiny.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: My right honourable and noble friend the Secretary of State and Lord Chancellor replied to Mr Evans's letter on 20 October 2006. The Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Bill was published in draft on 25 July and has been available for pre-legislative scrutiny by interested parties. There are no plans to invite a parliamentary committee to conduct a specific scrutiny inquiry on the Bill, though any comments from parliamentary bodies are welcome.

UN: Reform

Lord Dykes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will take steps with other United Nations partner countries to revive the United Nations reform exercise.

Lord Triesman: The Government continue to be strong and active supporters of reform of the UN. We hold regular discussions on the issue with UN and EU partners to ensure that the momentum for reform is maintained.
	A number of reforms have been implemented following the 2005 world summit, including the establishment of the new Peacebuilding Commission and Human Rights Council. We continue to press for further progress on Security Council enlargement and management reforms. Important reform issues currently on the agenda include the report in November of the Secretary-General's high-level panel on system-wide coherence, which seeks to improve UN operations on the ground, and the review of UN governance, oversight, procurement and human resources.
	I refer the noble Lord to the speech on the UN given by my honourable friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Kim Howells, at the London School of Economics on 9 October, available at www.fco.gov.uk.
	My right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary presented to another place in July 2006 a comprehensive assessment of the UN in the command paperThe United Kingdom at the United Nations (Cm 6892).